Complete uselessness.

Read: “The Chronologist” (Ian R MacLeod): A village with an uncertain relationship to time, a restless young lad, and a predictable outcome.

Read: “The Tale of Ak and Humanity” (Yefim Zozulya): Early Soviet story, very Russian, much purge, excess government, cynicism. Pretty much all atmosphere.

Read: Summer Frost (Blake Crouch): It’s tempting to blame the viewpoint character, but it’s not like she ever had a chance. She was only human.

Words: FAIL